At the beginning of the 21st century, in a project led by General Thaddeus Ross, the Army attempted to recreate the Super Soldier Serum, which led to an accident in which the scientist Bruce Banner was transformed into the Hulk. The military's main defense contractor Tony Stark became the superhero Iron Man when he was abducted by the Ten Rings terrorist group in Afghanistan. A year later the Air Force came in possession of one of his Iron Man suits, and Colonel James Rhodes became the government's own superhero known as War Machine, later temporarily renamed the Iron Patriot. After fighting off the alien invasion in the Battle of New York alongside S.H.I.E.L.D. and the Avengers, the Armed Forces had to start a campaign to take possession of S.H.I.E.L.D.'s bases once it was revealed that the intelligence agency was infiltrated by the resurrected HYDRA. Around the same time, the War on HYDRA began, with the US Armed Forces commanded by Brigadier General Glenn Talbot leading the charge.

From 1943 on, on the battlefields of Europe, the US Army had to face many advanced and deadly weapons developed by HYDRA, the rogue Nazi deep science division led by Johann Schmidt.[1]

In 1944, on the order of General John McGinnis, a US Army Air Forces plane flew over the Soviet positions around the German town of Finow, releasing the gas called the Midnight Oil in hopes of helping the Soviets crush the German resistance. However, the gas turned the Soviet soldiers into raving beasts, and most of them killed each other. That incident later became known as the Battle of Finow.[2]

Once the beachhead at Normandy was established, American units penetrated deep into Europe, fighting against the Nazis and HYDRA alongside Captain America in battles such as the Battle of the Bulge, eventually advancing all the way into Germany.

Cold War

The inter-dimensional portal swallows the Army vehicles.

After World War II, the United States became engaged in a Cold War with the Soviet Union.
In cooperation with the Army, Isodyne Energy tested an Atomic Bomb. The explosion created a mysterious anomaly that sucked everything close to it, including a military team that was witnessing the event and all their supplies and vehicles. When the portal vanished, the only thing left behind was a cluster of what became known as Zero Matter.[3]

At that time, the industrialist Howard Stark was involved in developing weapons for the United States Armed Forces. In the early days of the new period of tension, the Soviet analogue to HYDRA and the SSR began operating in the United States, stealing many of Howard Stark's most dangerous inventions. While federal law enforcement and intelligence agencies investigated Stark, members of the 107th Infantry Regiment and Howling Commandos, along with SSR Agents Peggy Carter and Jack Thompson, were dispatched to investigate the source of an intercepted Leviathan transmission. They were first deployed into Communist Poland, before making their way through Soviet Lithuania into Belarus at Ashmyany. They encountered resistance from both the students of the academy, and from Red Army troops attached to the facility.[4]

US Navy destroyers sailing around Cuba.

As the Cold War progressed, the United States Armed Forces found themselves active in various other theaters across the world. In the 1950s, it was involved in the Korean War, while in 1962, the US Navy blockaded the island of Cuba in response to the Soviet placement of missiles there. Through the 1960s and 1970s, the United States Armed Forces were also engaged in the Vietnam War, were major figureheads of the modern day, such as Thaddeus Ross, would gain much of their experience.[5] Unbeknownst to the Armed Forces was the fact that the former Nazi deep science and intelligence agency, HYDRA, had infiltrated the American intelligence agency known as S.H.I.E.L.D. S.H.I.E.L.D. had inadvertently provided the Armed Forces with false, half-true, or misleading intelligence as a result of its infiltration, and as such had manipulated the many major events in which the military had been involved.[6]

21st Century

The Hulk Incident

"Let me emphasize that what I'm about to share with you is tremendously sensitive, both to me personally and the Army. You're aware that we've got an Infantry Weapons Development program. Well, in WWII, they initiated a subprogram for Bio-Tech Force Enhancement.""Yeah, Super-Soldier."

The Birth of Iron Man

"Hi, Rhodey, it's me.""It's who?""Oh, I'm sorry, it is me. You asked. What you're asking about; it's me.""No, you see, this isn't a game. You do not send civilian equipment into my active war zone. You understand that?""It's not a piece of equipment, I'm in it! It's a suit! It's ME!"

Over the years after World War II, the US armed forces have undergone drastic changes in their military equipment and weapons thanks to Stark Industries who provides the latest and most advanced technology it can offer.

During the Global War on Terrorism, the US Armed Forces invaded Afghanistan. In 2009, the CEO of Stark Industries Tony Stark came to Afghanistan to demonstrate the Jericho missile to US and Afghan military officers. After the demonstration, he was kidnapped by the terrorist group known as the Ten Rings. The military searched for him for some time, until he was found alone in the desert.

Some time later, an unidentified flying object was spotted by the Air Force in the province of Kunar. The two F-22 Raptors tried to shoot it down by order of Major Allen, but the object, actually a man in an armored suit, accidentally damaged one of the planes. The man saved the pilot from the damaged plane, and Lieutenant-Colonel James Rhodes later told to the reporters at the press-conference that the plane crashed during the training exercise. It was later revealed that the man inside the suit was Tony Stark himself, who became publicly known as Iron Man.[8]

A few months later, S.H.I.E.L.D. director Nick Fury sent a team of U.S. Navy SEALs to board a ship controlled by the Ten Rings in the port of Aden. However, Iron Man suddenly appeared and attacked the terrorists. Though the Seals were outnumbered by the terrorists, Iron Man had no problems with killing all the terrorists and saving the Seals.[9]

Armors and Tribunals

"As he does not operate within any definable branch of government, Iron Man presents a potential threat to the security of both the nation and to her interests. I did, however, go on to summarize that the benefits of Iron Man far outweigh the liabilities, and it would be in our interest...""That's enough!""...to fold Mr. Stark into the existing chain of command."

Several months after Tony Stark revealed to the world that he was Iron Man, Senator Stern and other members of the Senate Armed Forces Committee directed the United States Marshals Service to serve Stark a subpoena, requiring him to attend a hearing in Washington, D.C. The purpose for this hearing was to discuss whether or not the Armed Forces had the right to forcibly deprive Stark of his suits, and reverse-engineer them for their own use. One of the witnesses called before the Committee was Lieutenant Colonel James Rhodes of the U.S. Air Force. Despite Stern's attempt to lead Rhodes into speaking negatively about Stark, Rhodes ended up speaking in Stark's favor.

After Bruce Banner's transformation into the Hulk, General Ross was given command of a special unit assembled to hunt the green giant. The Army followed Banner to Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, but Banner escaped after a fierce fight. Back in the United States, Ross ordered the injection of one of his men, Captain Emil Blonsky, with an experimental version of the Super Soldier Serum. Shortly after, Ross and his forces, super-powered Blonsky included, attacked Banner at Culver University, but failed once again.

Shortly after, Blonsky managed to recover very quickly from the wounds suffered in the battle with Bruce Banner, because of the Super Soldier Serum. Ross managed to track Banner's accomplice Samuel Sterns and had his lab taken in custody by the Army. He later managed to capture bot Banner and his own daughter Elizabeth Ross. However, unknown to Ross, Blonsky went to Sterns' lab and forced him to inject him with Banner's DNA, which transformed him into a Hulk-like monster, the Abomination. For stopping Blonsky, Ross reluctantly accepted Banner's help, and had the Hulk fight the Abomination. At the end of the battle, Ross took Blonsky in custody, while Banner disappeared once again.[7]

In 2012, as part of Loki's agreement with The Other, the Chitauri army invaded New York City. The New York Army National Guard was sent to repel the invasion, with little initial success. However, the attackers were ultimately defeated by the group of superheroes known as the Avengers. The great battle later became known as the Battle of New York.[11]

The Mandarin's Threat

"Thirty-nine hours ago the Ali Al Salem Air Base in Kuwait was attacked. I... I... I did that. A quaint military church filled with wives and children, of course. The soldiers were out on maneuver, the braves were away. President Ellis, you continue to resist my attempts to educate you, sir. And now, you've missed me again. You know who I am, you don't know where I am, and you'll never see me coming."

In 2012, a series of bombings occurred around the world, some of them in the American military bases. A man calling himself the Mandarin began appearing in video broadcasts, claiming responsibility for those terrorist attacks. The Pentagon immediately ordered the massive hunt for the Mandarin and his Ten Rings organization, but the terrorists proved to be uncatchable. Colonel James Rhodes's War Machine Armor was repainted and rebranded the Iron Patriot, but even Rhodes couldn't find the phantom terrorist. As it later turned out, the "bombings" were actually the results of failed experiments conducted by the scientist Aldrich Killian who intended to kill President Matthew Ellis so he could take control over the War on Terror with his Extremis-enhanced soldiers.

After the destruction of Project Insight and the disbandment of S.H.I.E.L.D., Natasha Romanoff was called to appear before a Senate subcommittee to explain the reasons for revealing all of S.H.I.E.L.D.'s secrets to the world. When General Scudder of the U.S. Army proclaimed that she should be in prison because of her previous crimes, she replied that people like her make the world a dangerous place, but they also make it safer.[13]

With the existence of HYDRA exposed to the world, both HYDRA and the United States Armed Forces started a race to get their hands on as much of S.H.I.E.L.D.'s bases and equipment as they could. Colonel Glenn Talbot of the U.S. Air Force contacted the Hub, demanding to speak to whoever was in charge, and found Phil Coulson. As Coulson attempted to assure him that the situation was under control, Talbot insisted that he would arrive with Peacekeepers.[14] Later, after being informed by Maria Hill about the location of the Providence, the United States Army detachment commanded by Talbot led a raid on the base.[15]

Representatives from the United States Armed Forces met with Ian Quinn who offered them one thousand Deathlok Soldiers to help in the war on terror since, as he explained, S.H.I.E.L.D. was now defunct and HYDRA grew unpredictably fast.[16]

Glenn Talbot received a promotion to Brigadier General for infiltrating Providence and became the Armed Forces' television representative, doing interviews with George Stephanopoulos. In his interview, he bragged about ending both HYDRA and S.H.I.E.L.D.; when in reality, all he caused was for both to hide. Both organizations learned from him that he was in charge of a storage facility that housed S.H.I.E.L.D. paraphernalia. HYDRA operative Carl Creel used that information to obtain the Obelisk; Phil Coulson used it to send a team to get a Quinjet.[18]

Talbot had soldiers drop Lance Hunter in a field when he was captured during the Quinjet mission. Talbot put Hunter in a helicopter and told him that he had a senator who wanted Coulson arrested. Hunter knew he was in the helicopter as an intimidation factor, but he was more concerned about the death of his friend Isabelle Hartley and agreed to help Talbot for two million dollars and a proper burial for her. Talbot gave him two days.

At the appointed time, Talbot met Coulson with his troops. Coulson gave Talbot Carl Creel and asked him not to allow him to escape again. Before he could capture Coulson, Talbot was surprised when the Bus came out of cloak with its guns aimed. Coulson then left in a cloaked Quinjet.[19]

After Coulson returned from a mission in Miami, he called Talbot to let him know that HYDRA had an agent who impersonated him there. Talbot was concerned with trying to trace the call. [20]

At the wedding of Navy officer Pete Leitner, HYDRA performed an experiment attempting to duplicate the powers of the Obelisk. The wait staff would only allow the guests, some of whom were Naval officers, to only drink laced champagne. Few of the officers died; most were hospitalized, to the disappointment of Daniel Whitehall. Dr. Lingenfelter, HYDRA Laboratories top scientist, hoped to appease Whitehall by saying that those who died were enemies of HYDRA. The Navy put the area on lockdown and Phil Coulson's Navy contact was unable to give S.H.I.E.L.D. access to investigate. [21]

Steyr HS.50 - Used by General Ross' soldiers during the battle of Harlem.

Vehicles

United States Army

Humvee: Can be seen mounted with M2 Browning machine guns during the battles of Culver University and New York, alongside the Stark Industries Sonic Cannon LRAD at Culver. Both the M1025 and M998 variants are seen in the Army's possession.

AH-64 Apache: Used when General Ross orders gunship support at the Battle of Culver University.

CH-53 Sea Stallion: Normally used by branches of the United States Armed Forces other than the Army, one has been requisitioned for use by Strategic Operations Command Center and can be seen in a hangar.

Oshkosh Striker: Used by General Ross when tracking Bruce Banner.

Omni International V-150-S: Used by Strategic Operations Command Center at the Battle of Culver University

IAV Stryker: Can be seen in a hangar owned by the US Army.

M109A6 Paladin: Self-propelled artillery. A photograph of an M109A6 from Forward Operating Base Marez in Mosul, Iraq was reviewed by Ultron during the AI's assessment of humanity's past.

E-3 Sentry: An AWACS (Airborne Warning and Control System) was being operated by the United States Air Force in the airspace over Gulmira, Afghanistan during the battle there.

RQ-4 Global Hawk: One of these drones was seen at a United States Air Force hangar shortly after Tony Stark's return from Afghanistan. Another was conducting ISR in the area over Gulmira, Afghanistan during the battle there.

F-16 Fighting Falcon: Tony Stark is seen posing with USAF F-16 Fighting Falcons in a promotional photograph that was shown at the Apogee Awards where Tony Stark was awarded.

HH-60 Pave Hawk - Used to deploy Lieutenant Colonel James Rhodes and USAF Pararescue jumpers to recover Tony Stark in the Afghan desert after he escaped Ten Rings custody.

B-2 Spirit: A stealth bomber in service with the United States Air Force. One was stationed at Edwards AFB when Lieutenant Colonel James Rhodes arrived with the confiscated Mark II Iron Man armor.

B1-B Lancer: A supersonic strategic heavy bomber in service with the United States Air Force. One was stationed at Edwards AFB when Lieutenant Colonel James Rhodes arrived with the confiscated Mark II Iron Man armor.

B-52H Stratofortress: A strategic bomber in service with the United States Air Force. One was stationed at Edwards AFB when Lieutenant Colonel James Rhodes arrived with the confiscated Mark II Iron Man armor.

Chevrolet Tahoe: Used for transport at Edwards AFB when Lieutenant Colonel James Rhodes arrived with the confiscated Mark II Iron Man armor.

Humvee: Airmen were driving several M1025 variants in a convoy while transporting Tony Stark back to Bagram Air Base when they were attacked by heavily-armed Ten Rings insurgents.

Air Force One: The call sign of any United States Air Force aircraft that is carrying the President of the United States. However, the term is most often used to refer to a specific Boeing VC-25 aircraft dedicated to Presidential transport. This aircraft was in use during the Mandarin bombings and terror campaign to carry President Matthew Ellis to safety. However, an Extremis-enhanced supersoldier, Eric Savin, hijacked the plane and nearly killed everyone on board. Most people were saved by the sudden arrival of the remotely-controlled Mark XLII Iron Man armor, though the VC-25 was destroyed.

Bell 412: This helicopter was used to transport Royal Marines Commando Emil Blonsky to meet with General Thaddeus Ross.

C-130 Hercules: Transport aircraft seen in service with United States Air Force during the military's hunt for Bruce Banner.

V-22 Osprey: Tiltrotor aircraft capable of both transportation and close air support. These were mentioned by General Thaddeus Ross during a conversation he had with Emil Blonsky. Also operated by the Marine Corps.

United States Navy

Gearing-class destroyer: In service during the Cold War. Several destroyers of this class assisted with the US Navy's blockade of Cuba during the Cuban Missile Crisis in 1962.

United States Marine Corps

F/A-18 Hornet: Tony Stark is seen posing with USMC F/A-18 Hornets in a promotional photograph that was shown at the Apogee Awards where Tony Stark was awarded.

CH-46 Sea Knight: A recently-retired helicopter still in service with several NATO countries and allies. It was still in use by the USMC at the time of Tony Stark's abduction in Afghanistan as it could be seen at Bagram Air Base.

CH-53E Super Stallion: A heavy-lift cargo helicopter; it is the largest and heaviest helicopter in service with the military. A USMC-operated Super Stallion could be seen at Bagram Air Base in Afghanistan at the time of Tony Stark's abduction.

V-22 Osprey: Tiltrotor aircraft capable of both transportation and close air support. These were mentioned by General Thaddeus Ross during a conversation he had with Emil Blonsky. Also operated by the Air Force.